By Ifeanyi Uwagwu
AS Artificial Intelligence (AI) rapidly transforms global education, redefining teaching, research and skill demands, Delta State is taking proactive steps to ensure its tertiary institutions remain relevant in the digital age.
Consequently, the Delta State Ministry of Higher Education is set to organise its third Education Summit, centred on artificial intelligence. This was disclosed by the State Commissioner for Higher Education, Prof Nyerhovwo Tonukari, in an exclusive interview with The Pointer in his office in Asaba.
Prof Tonukari revealed that the summit, expected to take place later this year, will convene university management teams, AI experts and representatives from state-owned, federal and private tertiary institutions across Delta State. The gathering aims to facilitate deeper integration of AI into teaching, learning and institutional operations, ensuring the state’s education sector keeps pace with global advancements.
Responding to questions about the rapid rise of AI and its implications for education, the commissioner described the technology as a revolution that demands proactive engagement.
“There seems to be what one might call a revolution happening with Artificial Intelligence,” he acknowledged. “AI is actually not entirely new in our universities. Before it became widely discussed as it is today, many academics already knew about it and were working with it. Lecturers in Computer Science and the Physical Sciences, people like us, have been using aspects of AI even before I became commissioner.”
He highlighted existing expertise within Delta State institutions, citing Prof Tsetimi at Delta State University (DELSU), Abraka, as one of the country’s leading AI consultants. He also noted that DELSU made history by becoming the first Nigerian university to develop a comprehensive policy document on the use of Artificial Intelligence in university education.
Prof Tonukari emphasised that university teaching has evolved dramatically.
“It is not like when many of us were in school. It is changing drastically,” he said. Reflecting on his own experience in the 1980s, he noted the scarcity of resources at the time, which forced heavy reliance on memorisation and limited books. Today, students have instant access to vast information, enabling faster research and more innovative approaches to pedagogy.
“Students now must have some level of education in AI, especially through their general studies courses,” he stressed. “AI is becoming increasingly important worldwide, and we cannot be left behind.”
The summit, he said, will bring together experts to deliver talks and guide institutions on adopting the technology more effectively, while fostering collaboration across all tertiary institutions in the state.
The planned event builds on the success of previous summits organised by the ministry. The first Education Summit, held in January 2016 under the theme “Leapfrogging Education in Delta State,” focused on improving teacher skills and overall educational advancement in the state.
The second Higher Education Summit, convened on December 3 and 4, 2024, addressed the theme “Alternative Funding for Tertiary Institutions,” exploring innovative ways to reinvigorate funding and ensure sustainability for higher education in Delta State.
With the third summit set to focus on AI, Prof Tonukari’s announcement signals the state’s continued commitment to positioning its tertiary institutions at the forefront of technological innovation and educational reform.
